“We have an unfair system that dumps responsibility on property owners to take care of the trees and fix the sidewalks,” Wiener said. “I could have introduced legislation five years ago to require the city to take back the trees. I could have done that. But it’s not fixing the problem. If we take them back without sustainable funding, the trees will simply die.” … [Read more...] about SF supes’ plans return street tree maintenance to city

Public Works cares for 32,000 of the city’s trees — the other 73,000 are privately owned. But the agency only has 11 arborists on staff, down from 18 in 2005, which means trees get pruned only once every 10 to 12 years. It would take $20 million — 10 times the Public Works’ current tree maintenance budget — to shear the city’s trees every three to five years, the recommended service schedule. … [Read more...] about SF Supervisor Wiener proposes parcel tax to pay for tree care

The city’s street trees are worth an estimated $1.7 billion, provide $9.5 million in annual health and environmental benefits, and add $100 million to city property values, but San Francisco’s cash-strapped Department of Public Works began handing over maintenance responsibly for street trees to private owners in 2012, saying it cannot afford the upkeep itself. But even DPW dislikes the program: At a recent hearing, DPW urban forest manager Carla Short said the department has serious concerns about the quality of care by private owners, noting that several trees have already been destroyed by excessive pruning. … [Read more...] about Scott Wiener seeks fund to make city responsible for street trees